By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

 

LAPLACE — After St. Charles’ district clash with Brusly Thursday at Comet Field, SCC’s Chad McNeil admitted that early in the season, he and his teammates took winning for granted — an attitude that led to a five-game losing streak, the longest of Paul Waguespack’s tenure as coach.

Clearly, that mindset is a thing of the past.

McNeil hit a home run, a double, and collected four RBIs to help lead St. Charles to a dominating 11-3 win over Brusly, pushing SCC to a record of 15-1-1 in the 17 games since the end of the aforementioned streak.

“We were taking wins for granted, like they came naturally because of the tradition of the program,” said McNeil. “We realized that they don’t. It takes work … and right now we’re all working hard and playing as a team. Fifteen hits today, you can’t do much better.”

The Comets (18-6-1) rapped out five hits in the first inning and never slowed down. The Comets have now scored 10 runs or more in seven of their last 11 games.

“We swung the bats again today,” said St. Charles coach Paul Waguespack. “The run we’re on, it’s a good sign. All it ultimately is, is a number. And I still feel like we can get better. But continuing to play like we are, and a win like this, it’s definitely a good thing.”

Brusly (14-10, 2-4) struck first, scoring two runs in the first inning to put St. Charles in a hole.

But the Comets shook off the blow, and it took just three batters for SCC to assume a lead it would never relinquish.

Austin Weber singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the first for St. Charles. Donnie Savoie followed with a single of his own.

That brought up McNeil, who pushed St. Charles ahead with a single swing, smashing a home run ball to left-center to make it 3-2.

“It was a big opportunity early,” said McNeil. “I fell down 0-2 and battled back to 3-2. Then I saw a fastball and got on top of it.”

The Comets had a chance to push the lead further early on; with one out, Nick Montagut drew a walk and Jeffrey Hall hit an infield single. Brandon Zimmer followed with his own single, but Montagut was thrown out at the plate. Then SCC attempted a double steal, but Hall was thrown out at home.

SCC didn’t extend the lead in the second or third innings, but Zimmer ignited a seven run fourth inning when he blasted a home run off the centerfield scoreboard to make it 4-2.

Luke Poche followed with a single, and Kerry Waguespack bunted courtesy runner Connor Western over. Weber flied out, but then SCC delivered on five consecutive hits. Savoie singled to right, then McNeil laced a hit to left to make it 5-2.

Macky Cortez doubled home two runs on a ball hit to center to make it 7-2. Montagut lined another single up the middle, then Hall dropped in an opposite field triple to clear the bases and make it 9-2. Hall scored soon after on an error to make it 10-2.

SCC added another run on a Savoie RBI double in the fifth.

Connor Smith earned the victory for St. Charles, completing five innings and allowing three hits and two earned runs. He walked six.

“I was a little disappointed in the walks. We can’t have that many, and it got us in trouble in the first. But Connor battled out there. I’ll definitely give him that,” said Waguespack.

 

ST. CHARLES 7, BRUSLY 3 — On Tuesday, St. Charles traveled to Brusly and came away with a victory, though one much tougher than the one that came Thursday.

The Panthers brought the tying run to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, but McNeil struck out Brandon Manola for the game’s final out to secure the win for SCC.

McNeil allowed two earned runs and struck out five. He allowed five hits and walked three. He also collected two RBIs at the plate.

Nick Montagut collected three hits and had an RBI.